Last updated: 07/03/2006 by Michael "TYP" Cole

Castlevania is arguably the most proliferate and consistently praised series on Nintendo's handhelds. Since Castlevania: Circle of the Moon in 2001, Konami's 2D games have been a mainstay for handheld gamers. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for Nintendo DS continues the tradition, promising more monster-slashing and exploration for Castlevania fans.

Although Portrait of Ruin retains the overall structure forged by Symphony of the Night on the PlayStation, it brings some significant changes to the well-worn formula. The Devil Painter and his two daughters have aspirations of (surprise) resurrecting Dracula amidst the chaos of World War II, a scheme that vampire hunter Jonathan Morris and his witch partner Charlotte Orlean must prevent. Players may switch between the two characters at any time or summon the other character as a computer-controller partner. While they share health and magic point meters, the two characters have different talents. Jonathan initially wields a whip and common Castlevania sub-items (holy water, boomerangs, etc.), though he can collect many other main weapons (as Soma could in Dawn of Sorrow). While Jonathan is stronger than his partner, he must rely on Charlotte for her transformational talents, such as her ability to fly as an owl. The dual-character setup lends itself to magical attack combinations and puzzles, often involving context-sensitive actions. The player can direct the secondary character using the touch screen.

Like its predecessors, Portrait of Ruin will still require players to explore Dracula's castle, leveling up and snatching vital upgrades that will surely unlock previously inaccessible wings. However, players will also venture through time and space using the Devil Painter's portraits scattered throughout the castle. These more linear sections include locales such as a European city, an Egyptian desert, and a graveyard and, judging from the E3 2006 demo, will conclude with a boss battle.

This entry also improves on Dawn of Sorrow's graphics. While the first DS game offered some 3D backdrops, Portrait of Ruin ups the ante by rendering many of its enemies as three-dimensional models, which provides for more fluid animations and special effects. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin will also feature a cooperative side adventure with its own stage, playable both locally and over Nintendo WiFi Connection. With Konami's proven track record, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is most definitely worth gamers' anticipation.